CP+ 2014: Fujifilm shows new 50mm teleconverter for X100S

CP+ 2014: Fujifilm shows new 50mm teleconverter for X100S

We're at the CP+ show in Japan, where Fujifilm is showing a new teleconverter for the X100S. Details are scarce but unofficially we understand that the new converter will be available later in spring, for around $300.

Comments

Considering that the converters are both pricey and bulky, I would have preferred more dramatic wide angular (24-ish) and tele-lens (80-ish), because the original fixed lens (35mm equivalent) can basically replace both 28 or 50 without much trouble. However, I don't want to be harsh on Fujifilm, which recently has been developing what photographers dream about, instead of developing what is convenient for them to develop (as most brands do).

I don't get it. You take a fantastic portable camera, and screw on a giant lens to get to 50 mm. I would suggest you either buy a X-pro 1, or crop a little. I bought the X100-s for its simplicity. Works for 99% of the time. For the rest, I'll reluctantly carry my D800E (also not bad, but less user-friendly...)

This has my attention! I like this concept, having wished the X100 had a 45mm or 50mm view of the world. I tend to like either a bit wider or longer than 35mm, and now both will be possible. I had been contemplating an X Pro, but now the X100s is suddenly a contender.

Same lens on both cameras, and as with how the original wide angle converter works on both as well this should work the same so long as the new firmware is made available for the X100 as well, which, seeing how Fuji does stuff, should happen

Thats great news Fuji! I've been waiting for this for too long. The x100 does everything except for classic portraits (MO). I currently use a DSLR to cover this area. Looking forward to see some sampleshots with hopefully some nice bokeh.

Cal, in a tight headshot, a 35mm (FF equiv) will render the subject differently than a 50mm (FF equiv). When you get in close, the wider-angle distorts the image more, while the longer focal length compresses the image and yields a more pleasing & natural-looking headshot. You can't get around that with cropping... and it's worth $300 if you'd like to create tight portraits with your X100S.

Perspective depends on only one thing, the subject to lens distance. If you use the 23/2 and the lens is the exact same distance as the lens with the new teleconverter attached, the perspective rendering of a cropped 23 mm image would identical to the perspective rendering of the teleconverter image. The out of focus rendering might be different and the pixel dimensions would be different. But not the perspective.

I agree. The lens is f2.0 23mm, which is roughly f3 35mm full frame equivalent. With converter it should shift to 50 mm full frame equivalent if I get it right. This would mean a factor of about 1,42, resulting in about f2.8 33mm APS-C or f4.4 50mm full frame, respectively.

When you mount a tele-converter in front of the lens it does not affect the aperture. The aperture will appear to be magnified when you view it from the front. It's the apparent size of the aperture that matters. So the maximum aperture will remain f 2.0. It's when the tele-converter is mounted between the lens and the sensor that the aperture is reduced.

I'm not sure 50mm equivalent is such a big deal. A mild crop will give you the same thing.

The X100(s) cameras are aimed for those who primarily shoot at 35mm equivalent but may want some minor flexibility, but still remaining in "normal" range. If you use a 28-50mm zoom lens instead, it couldn't be constant f/2.0 or would get huge for an APS-C sensor, and such a waste if you shot 35mm 80% of the time.

No trolling. A teleconverter always decreases the resulting lens speed. The f-value is calculated from the diameter of the focal length divided by the diameter of the aperture. The teleconverter increases the focal length, but cannot increase the aperture (it is part of the original lens). So a 2x TC doubles the f-value.

Possibly he means that if you wanted to reproduce the perspective and depth of field as the x100s & converter offer at f/2.0 on a full frame sensor, you would need approx. 50mm and f/3.5 (although it's actually more like f/3.2).

Correct, Summi, but this isn't a teleconverter, which would go between the lens and the sensor. This is a teleside converter that goes on the end of the lens and does not reduce brightness. Big difference.

Aperture is not the hole where the blades are, but the hole at the FRONT. What is normally called the aperture is actually the diaphragm that limits the effective aperture by limiting the effective overall aperture size, as seen from the front.

A teleconverter reduces the aperture because it goes on the back of the lens while the overall size of the aperture of the lens doesn't change, but the focal length does. This is why aperture is actually written in f/x where f is focal length.

As this converter has a larger front element, the possibility of keeping the aperture at f2 remains.

f3.5? How do calculate that? The lens is f2.0 23mm, which is roughly f3 35mm full frame equivalent. With converter it should shift to 50 mm full frame equivalent if I get it right. This would mean a factor of about 1,42, resulting in about f2.8 33mm APS-C or f4.4 50mm full frame, respectively.

Sorry, Iwas too late with my last comment. I don't believe that. If the front lens would limit, it would be reproduced in the image resulting in a serious vignetting. The position of the aperture blades is the only one where any cutting cannot be seen in a sharp image (only in the blurred areas).

The idea seems great: no loss of aperture (no typical teleconversion loss of two stops or more) and seemingly great Fuji optical quality. But my experience with teleconversion screw-on lenses have always been poor. I hope they have figured something out that has not been done yet.

I almost bought a wide teleconverter for my fixed lens camera decade ago before I got my first DSLR a few years later. I am still glad to this day that I didn't make the purchase even though I had an itch to buy it for months.

In theory, it'll never perform as well as a descent prime lens on a ILC/DSLR but it's priced like one. When the X100S is replaced with it's successor in a short few years, you'll just be left with heavy glass with no compatibility with anything to be released in the future and no resale value. It will be in the box labeled "what was I thinking".

Amen. I went down this road with my C7070. Bought the tele and the wide converters. They weren't BAD, but the photo quality was compromised, particularly in the edges and corners. Maybe this converter is higher quality. Still, it makes no sense to me now to buy this type of thing rather than get an ILC.

if the quality is as good as the x100 wide converter, i'm sold. i love the 28mm wide. there is a small loss of contrast, and a bit of distortion, but sharpness is just as good as without.

it's mainly about having a little variety for me to shoot. the x100s is my only large sensor camera, so having a few focal lengths with very high image quality is about all i need. the pinhead zoom cameras and premium compacts have me covered otherwise

That's actually a really good point and something I forgot about doing myself. Well over a decade ago I had a wide angle converter I purchased for an Olympus c2100 which I shot besides my film slrs at the time. The zoom on the camera was only a 38mm equivalent so I wanted something wider. The quality wasn't bad, but I rarely ever used it because it was such a pain for me screwing and unscrewing it. Today I haven't a clue where that converter is (probably packed in a box and forgotten somewhere), while I still have and use some of my slr lenses which actually predate it.

Some may not mind or even perceive the inconvenience, but for me it was not the right choice. Additionally, for me, it's wiser to buy into a system that I trust to be around for years to come. I don't have the confidence fuji will still be making compatible cameras several years down the line, though I certainly hope so.

People buy fixed focal length fixed lens compacts for simplicity and convenience. There is nothing simple or convenient about hauling around tele-converters because you really wanted an ILC or a zoom lens.

An X100s variant with a zoom lens would have made much more sense. And if it had a modest zoom range.... like 1.5X or 2.0X, then it could still be pretty small.

- If you pay for a 1" sensor P&S, thanks to its optics. it is WASTE OF MONEY (excluding Sony Superzoom)- If you pay for a 1" sensor ILC cam, it is WASTE OF MORE MONEY.- If you pay for a APS-C sensor with stabile optics it is WASTE OF RESOURCES (that might exclude new canon G 1 X II, I don´t know yet!)- If you pay for a full frame sensor camera, and your model is a mirrorless one, with stabile optics or inter-changable lens you* are A FILTY RICH DUDE !

And damn !! It would be good to have smilar money and taste as you have.

(*) You are not a pro, are you? Pro; Person, who earns money from his photographic work.

As you see, a WASTE OF RESOURCES camera , is trying to excuse from its buyes by releasing converters.

Dude, why did not you buy its better version even more affordable ? (The fuji´s interchagable lens family) Don´t try to give me a speach of "But its pocketable and .... come on dude ;) someone put this beautifull lens in to a single lens jail, and you paid for it!!

- If you pay for a 1" sensor P&S, thanks to its optics. it is WASTE OF MONEY (excluding Sony Superzoom)

So the origbal RX100 is a waste of money........Best general use point and shoot is a waste of money yeah right

- If you pay for a 1" sensor ILC cam, it is WASTE OF MORE MONEY.Nikon 1 is indeed an waste of money

If you pay for a APS-C sensor with stabile optics it is WASTE OF RESOURCES (that might exclude new canon G 1 X II, I don´t know yet!)The G1X is not Apsc. it has an 1,5 inch sensor which is roughly similar as M43 sensors.

- If you pay for a full frame sensor camera, and your model is a mirrorless one, with stabile optics or inter-changable lens you* are A FILTY RICH DUDE !

i know that the practical intj type people at my workplace who scoffed at the concept and design of the x100 would be even more disdainful of people who purchased a monster teleconverter to add onto a fixed lens camera that is supposed to be discreet and compact.

but screw those people i want this. i love my x100s for the fun of taking photographs and this would add a little variety to the experience. 28, 35, 50mm.. x100s has me set for life!

Of course, being such means I impulsively clicked "send" before pointing out that I can't explain why I like it---I just do.Also, there is no doubt my enthusiasm will inexplicably wane in the future. It just will. :-)